REVERSIBLE EYE began as an art magazine and comp tape label in the early 1990‘s, going simply by the title Reversible at that time. The label/zine was created by the artist Karim Shuquem to share music, drawings, thoughts, and interests, as well as those of friends. In the early 2000s, having moved from Los Angeles to Oakland, California, Shuquem turned the ‘zine into a website and booked the first art event associated with the label, effectively changing Reversible Eye into an event promotions and arts curating group while still releasing an occasional record or tape. In 2005, upon moving to Chicago, Shuquem opened Reversible Eye Gallery with partner, Elena Brocade.

Together they curated art exhibitions and events based around themes such as puppets (The Puppet and Doll Show), graffiti and stencilart (Public Image Enemy), color limitations (Red White and Blue), and fashion (Excesstential Style), as well as, working with various community organizations (Puerto Rican Cultural Center and Arts of Life) and individual artists such as Panacea Theriac, Nicholas Kashian and Christopher Ilth.

Reversible Eye gallery continued its development as a volunteer-run interdisciplinary art space, whose artistic vision and strong commitment to bringing diverse cultural expressions together, has focused its interest in experimental and underground art, performance, and outsider/ folk art.

In 2010 Shuquem and Brocade partnered with the absurdist comic duo, The Puterbaugh Sisters, and continued to evolve as an arts management and showcase group representing high-caliber artists of many stripes including regular variety and comedy showcases.

Shuquem and Brocade closed the gallery in 2013 and moved to Los Angeles, continuing to produce events and provide technology and publicity assistance to local artists.